Time to talk to my readers and respond to reviews. I am highly concerned about the lack of reviews for the last chapter. It confirms my worst fears of being a bad sex writer. Taking the rest of the story line into consideration that does not bode well. After all, I am promising more sex. Wow that sounds bad. Sorry for being a debbie downer.

Be on the look out for a musical reference somewhere bellow. It's the special scavenger hunt item.

First, let me thank you for putting it on your favorite's list 1AmTheCatalyst, 7266aa, Brooke Vengeance, ChimaTigon, CrowingCrow, GuiltyLancaster, Hunty Play, Morgan15009, Pearl Darkness, Shade 1727, Stormy Trix, XxClearNoizxX cinderhasfallen, claraowl, fanaticalParadox, and idleIdiot. I'd like to thank the people who have followed Her Guard Dog now, so thank you 1AmTheCatalyst7Artemis7, 7266aa, Allycat826, Ash141, Brooke Vengeance, ChimaTigon, Cpt. Lynx, CrowingCrow, Darkerpaths, GuiltyLancaster, Hunty Play,KyranKandosa, MarkAntimony, Metal Vile, Pearl Darkness, Raven Bishop, Stormy Trix, The Dude Strikes Back, anarchopunk, cinderhasfallen, claraowl, fanaticalParadox, idleIdiot, iliketacoslikealot, and sterling visions. And for one of the most meaningful gestures, thank you fanaticalParadox, DarkerPaths, claraowl, cinderhasfallen, Gravenimage, Guest: Andrew, Guest:Guest, for reviewing. Thank you all.

Chapter 18: At Odds

This day is now up there with the day that Emerald locked herself in the bathroom. Hero worship, long flight, Grimm attack, emergency lift off and dangerous maneuvering, and Emerald not being there the next morning. Waking up alone after over a week of being in constant contact with another living being was a jolt. Actually it was more of a slap in the face. Emerald and I can't sleep together because I messed up.

People in our line of, well... it's not really our line of work, but work similar to mine have less aura. Taking another's life takes a toll on the soul. As a result we aren't as well protected. I heard the shots being fired from inside the Bullhead. A little after that I heard the Nevermore's cries and thud against the Bullhead. The distribution of weight going all wrong. Diving downwards as I see her fall right at the peripherals of the monitoring system. Catching her with the Bullhead wing as I make a last ditch attempt to do anything after finally seeing the right hole in the cliff side.

The moment I was in far enough I jerked on the breaks. I couldn't risk breaking the dock or Emerald. When I heard the loud thump of a body on wood, I yanked the keys out of the drive, bolted out of there. I slammed the door open and shut to reach Emerald quickly. Someone appeared at the edge of a cave and then disappeared back into the system. I heard the words echo back to me from the eerily lit cavern.

"Transporters... back... hurt...chid...hur...get back."

Emerald didn't look good. A dark, angry bruise over her stomach. No aura. Tears, whimpering. It looked like one of her ribs might be out of their socket. Damn. I'm a retarded fuck up. My fucking legs not having the ability to do treasurer sensing like a normal foot does and my having a fucking piece of metal makes me a useless piece of trash. This is my fault. Cinder'll kill me, and I'll be dead and rotting, and Emerald will still be in a massive amount of pain because I'm a useless good-for-nothing retarded fuck-up. I guess my old man was right, no good deed goes unpunished.

I took off my emblem cloth to make a pillow for Emerald's head to rest on. I didn't have smelling salts to pop her ribs back in place. There's no Ice Dust crystals on board to reduce the swelling of her bruises. Her shoes were damp. I couldn't fix anything. I'm a useless fuck up that doesn't have anything to offer.

"Ci-ci-cinder," she whimpered.

It froze me. I'm not sure why. It's only further proof that I'm not up to the only job I'm ever going to get. Her crying out for Cinder. I've got to stop thinking for a moment.

"Shhh. Shhh. Just breath," I whispered for some reason. Probably to avoid screaming like a little kid.

I was replaced quickly with Dr. Orchid. She brought a stretcher and got Sienna to deal with me. Our supplies were desperately needed here after all. I locked the inner-Bullhead doors before letting the buyers grab and go. I didn't bargain much. I couldn't think too well. I just gave her a copy of the supplies that Emerald had made. Emerald. Why the hell didn't I just get out myself?! Emerald was half-asleep, and I don't have anywhere near the level it takes to get a licenses. It's my fault. I'm going to get killed for this. It's the exact opposite of keeping her out of harm.

After following for a while I was blocked at the entrance to Dr. Orchid's 'hospital'. Route to Bullhead. Close door on empty room. Route to Glas House. Route to upstairs and an empty bed. End of route.

I woke up with my stomach feeling like I just reported back to the thief lord after not getting enough loot. Bruised but not broken. I tried moving. The moan of pain and temporary nurse that Dr. Orchid assigned to me rushing over made me understand that I was not Ok. I'm sore enough to be considered broken for a little bit and be fussed over. Not forever, just until it stops hurting to move. I tried looking around for Mercury.

He wasn't there.

I needed to talk to him about the whole transporter thing. That maybe I wanted it to be more of a permanent thing instead of information gathering cover. I think this is the first time I've been in mortal peril without Cinder there. If she was I'd never be allowed to continue. Jail may not be nice, and thief lords are far less cordial, but living on the street this never happens. And the money doesn't hurt either. This is money with freedom, that's the dream, right?

Footsteps, the clicking of heels and thud of Mercury's boots, I looked to the doorway. The shadows were a little blurry and my head was still throbbing. The colors swirled a little. I made out a Mercury shape. The pain was making me see things. It was like I tried to use my semblance against myself.

"Mercury." I started sitting up.

"I've been asking around. If we leave tomorrow we can get to the farthest settlement that Cinder might have reached. Spire. If no one's seen her there yet then our presence will be noted to her as she passes through," Mercury said. His face didn't have it's usual calm asshole look on it. His eyes were hollow.

This isn't how I wanted things to go. In fact this is the exact opposite of the scraps of a plan I had thought of. What was Mercury even thinking? We hadn't even completed this delivery yet. Our story could be blown apart if we left tomorrow. That and I'm in no shape to move back into Grimm territory. Dr. Orchid stormed in from just outside.

"What, exactly, are you discussing with my patient? I gave you strict instructions. Emerald does not need long and difficult chats. She needs rest. She cannot be moved. Being here and being my patient means that she is under my protection and my authority is to be under no circumstance undermined or questioned." Her gaze was sharp on Mercury. No. No. No.

I tried speaking. My throat was tight and sore, breathing labored. I'm glad they didn't give me meds when I was unconscious though, that didn't bring back good memories.

"Auhh."

My reaction only seemed to prove Dr. Orchid right. She gave Mercury an I told you so look. I tried to make myself known through other means.

"Auggh." Mercury looked back at me again. I shook my head slightly from side to side. The pillow became really soft all of the sudden and everything faded again. Back to dreams of Cinder walking away. Never looking back.

I went to visit Emerald after being unable to eat breakfast. She sounded terrible. Dr. Orchid gave her a new shirt saying that her old top was too tight on her. I know that she still has that bruise though. That huge ugly bruise underneath her shirt. Aura can't heal wounds after the battle, not like there's enough between the two of us in the first place to heal a paper cut. That shit doesn't go away in a night. I left before the bitch doctor could dispense with me.

Kaitlynn pretended to not notice anything was amiss when I got there and went upstairs. I went back to the room. I dropped to the floor and started push ups.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. 10... What is your job? ...18... My job is to protect Emerald. ...27... You've failed. ..36.. 37. 38. 39. 40... What are the rules? ...45... Rule Number One, safeguard Cinder's interests. ...52... The Next? ...68... Emerald is in charge when Cinder is away. ...76... The last? ...83... If I harm or allow Cinder's student, Emerald, to be harmed in any way it is my head. ...99... Which rule is most important? ...105... Right now it's rule number two. ...116... Why? ...123... Because Cinder isn't here to outline her interests or enforce rule number three. ...137... What should you be doing then? ...140... Waiting for Emerald to gain control again and following rule two then one. ...144... How can you follow rule number one without Cinder? ...148... Emerald's in charge, so it's her interests I'm safe guarding. ...149. 150... Good answer.

I turned over onto the floor. I began to make a list of questions that's answers would outline what I had to do for today. What's Emerald's first priority that's in my hands? How can I best accomplish it? The next? After that? What can be put off until tomorrow?

First make sure we get paid for the cargo and that nothing was taken that we didn't want to sell. I have to be clean and in clothes that aren't streaked with sweat to bargain with Sienna. Looking exhausted is no way to challenge a rat for food. The strong survive, and the weak die.

I got back even more tired than before. I had to shower quickly and change to catch up with Sienna. I double checked with Emerald's ledger to make sure I sold the goods at the right price. After that compensation fee being used for paying Emerald's medical was an easy enough thing to work out. Never mind that Emerald could have done better and probably gotten us some cash as well. I checked up on her after putting the money away and grabbing her stuff to keep in The Glas House. Acting in the moment I dumped Emerald's bag on the bed. I tossed the hard stuff on to the floor, but stopped for a moment when I got to Emerald's weapon. I put them on the bed side table. I curled up in the clothes like a rat in its nest and fell into that headache induced half-asleep state again.

With the mice's goals now being at odds,

How hard would it be to keep hidden that they are frauds?